President Donald Trump promised Day 1 answers on purported SUV-sized drones that caused commotion across New Jersey. A week and a day after his inauguration, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the drones were approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and were not of foreign origin.
Leavitt quoted a statement she said came directly from the president’s office: “After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational, and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.”
The White House’s statement contradicts Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s claim that the drones were launched from an “Iranian mother ship” and confirms speculation by Sen. Andy Kim and others that many drone reports were of misidentified hobbyist drones.
Contact the author, Collin Hall, at 609-886-8600, ext. 156, or by email at chall@cmcherald.com,
